Interlude with the Dark Hierarchy (part 2)
Unbeknownst to most people, the Dark is much more organized than the Light. For the Dark has a strict hierarchy, without which it could not survive, it would descend into an anarchy as various wizards tried to seize power for themselves. It is organized differently depending on the current Dark Lord, but there is always a pecking order and the only way to move up is to kill someone higher than you and not be killed in return, or for someone higher then you to lose the favor of the current Lord. Usually this means a duel sanctioned by either the Dark Lord or someone else near the top.
During Voldemort's first reign, the lowest order was that of the general Death Eater. The Death Eaters were the foot soldiers. They were easily replaceable and not of extraordinary power, blood, will, or even particularly useful, except as cannon fodder. Also, contrary to the light's propaganda, many of the Death Eater's were halfblood or muggleborn.
Above the average Death Eaters were varying levels of higher ranked Death Eaters. These other ranks were the equivalent of officers in modern militaries and were almost exclusively pureblood with the occasional halfblood. Having been raised in a British orphanage between World Wars, Voldemort organized his army along similar lines to that of the British military, including specialized units, medics, and ranks denoted by the color of the trim on their black robes.
Next came the Inner Circle. The Inner Circle was the brass, the generals, of the Dark Army. They come from the aristocracy of the Wizarding World, though every now and than one of the lesser families had a child who was particularly talented and ambitious who managed to join the ranks of the Inner Circle. The Inner Circle believed themselves to be at the top, but they were not, they just don't know it and this was to the Dark Lord's advantage.
The leader of the Inner Circle, the one who holds the most power was the Dark Prince. It was the title given to the Dark Lord's favorite and to act against the Dark Prince was to act against the Dark Lord. The Dark Prince was the Dark Lord's right-hand and he was the head of the Death Eaters. He could also be anyone, with any blood status, as indicated by Severus's status as a halfblood, though his mother was from an old family. The only requirement was to be the best and to find a way to make yourself indispensable to the Dark Lord while earning the respect or fear of the rest of the Death Eaters.
That is how the army is structured, but there is another group, one similar to a council, or maybe it could be called the Dark Lord's advisors. Whatever term you use they are not well known. Known only to the Dark Lord, his Heir, and the Dark Prince, they are below Dark Prince, but above the Inner Circle, they are the Elite. The Elite serve to advise the Dark Lord and to go on missions that require true stealth and for the blame to be laid elsewhere. They could be termed as the Special Forces of the Dark Army.
The Leader of the Elite is their Commander. He is equal in all things to the Dark Prince. Together they form the Dark Lord's most trusted, his left- and right hands.
Above all of this is the Dark Lord. He rules with an iron fist and yet he allows a fair degree of backstabbing and bickering among his troops. To fall out of his favor is perilous to ones health for even if the Dark Lord himself, never touches you, your fellows might. And yet, there is honor too, twisted as it may be. This honor is the type of honor found among the Mafia or within a city gang.
The Dark Heir, now here is an enigma. Where does he fall? In theory, he is above no one, yet answers only to his father. In truth, no one argues against him and in the absence of his father, he too learns to rule. After he is of age he must go on missions, raids, and fights with the Death Eaters for the troops must respect him and the Inner Circle must fear him.
Lastly, the marks differ according to position. The marks of the Death Eaters are uncontrollable by their wearers. Only the Dark Lord and his Dark Prince can control them. The marks worn by those in the inner circle, while the same in appearance, the pain can be dimmed or controlled slightly by the men that they mark. They can also be used to send indistinct messages to the Dark Prince.
The Dark Prince, on the other hand, not only has the mark of a Death Eater, but also a mark which is used not as a summons, but so that he may summon others. On his left hand is a tattoo of a snake eating its tale, resembling a bracelet. This is how the Dark Lord marks his Dark Prince and how he calls him as well. Should the Dark Prince fall from his station, his life is forfeited, for the mark cannot be removed and no two people may wear the mark of the Dark Prince at any one time. The only exception is if both the Dark Lord and his Dark Heir each have their own Dark Prince, in which case the mark will always differ in some slight way.
The Elite also have separate marks; instead of the large garish Dark Marks they have the outline of a snake around both their upper arms. Their commander has a mark identical to that of the Dark Prince, but it is on his right hand and the marks of the Elite are removed when he assumes his title as Commander of the Elite.